New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-28
until next week and intrigue goes on at an
accelerated pace.
4 STRONG INDICTMENT

Strong and earnest protests by the hundred
have been heard since the first President OF
the United States ever elected by disloyalty IN
deed or in memory ordered the return of cap
tured Rebel flags But the words Of Senator
Uiscock. in his address at the unveilng of o
monument at Syracuse on Thursday last, were
40 pbilosonhic:.l- so calm in tone and so mod
crate in language. that many may fail TO ap-
prcciatc the terrible rcbulle they convey. The
voice of n great nation, loyal to itself and
to its dead. just to traitors with the unsparing
mstico of eternal condemnation. and yet de-
void of yindctivcness, is heard in this address
Senator Hiscock recognizes thai the new
generation cannot and should rot share INC
animosities of the war period Already the
Young rejoice in the grand results achieved.
but are less mindful of the train OF events
that led to the struggle, and their SUCCESSORS
will take even less heed of them. but rovcrontc
for patriotic memories will be kept alive and
il will be grateful peoples loving duty In tho
coming ages Something more than grateful
memory inspires these obscrvanccs. 1t is the
highest duty of the Nation perpetually to teach
the sacred obligation of loyalty, and the GRIM
inality of rebellion, that those who are happily
free from vindictivc feeling may not also bo
most unhappiy devoid of sense OF right ard
of duty Thus the Senator says;
sherman's epigram, "Thc war for the rebellion
was wrong. ctcrnaly wrong and that for the Union
right eternally right" will 60 laundering along the
ages and while 1t Is remembered we viii rear monu-
ments the memory of Union veterans ana py theso
and other proper observances ftingiy commemorate
their services
When a nation teaches that treason is as
noble as loyalty, and merits the same honor
then it strikes at It's own life. The nation has
no business to exist no business to enact laws.
no business to punish anybody for breaking
laws. if the traitors and the loyal men are to
stand on an equal plane in the dispassionatc
Judgment of the next generation succeeding
the suppression of rebellion. IL the new
generation has not, with all its freedom from
vindctiye passion, an abiding sense OF the
wronc ulness of treason and OF the grandeur
Of that heroic loyalty which preserved the
Union. then 1t is not worthy of It's heritage
not fit to govern great nation, not able TO
confront and put down the new forms OF re-
sstance TO lust law which arc sure to menace
the Republic.
Gush and sentimcntalism have done their
worst ard utmost TO confound a sturdy ana
abiding sense of loyalty with mean vindIctiVc'
ness toward political opponents. 1t was high
time that the distinction should be maize clear
by the Senator, and by others whose duty "
is TO lead public opinion. No nation can With
dcccncv. or sclf.rcspcct. or safety. forget the
Gulf between loyalty and lawbrcakng, or
suffer it's people to cherish feeling that un-
finching and perpetual condemnation OF CRIME
A.
is petty vindicuycneSs. Thus Mr. Hiscock says :
From the flags our armies captured to the consti-
tutional amendments-the new bill Of tho peoples
rchts-nothing gained by the must ever DO sur
rendered all trophies of vaor aud patriotism must be
treasured until the elements dissolve lhoin, aud tho
work Of preserv alton should oheerfuly be performed
by the Government and tho people should ana VIII
see that this sacred trust is executed
The genius and bravery Of men displayed In the
commission Of great crime against their country
NAV exact honor nom their associates and admraton
from others, but when they are crowned as PATRIOTS
heroes or martyrs, their teachings and acts are en-
,;s.sed, and the young especially may be inspired
with their spirit and imbiSc iheir principles.
SO emphatic act Of servltuds &c the political
power that attempted by long and destructive civil
war dissolve the Union as the surrender OF t'sr
battle flags and their removal fOm the capital would
DO national rcbuke Of the Union
sentiment Of the country that amid great pcrls
In tho sonth supported the Government; national
insult 10 the patriotism We are here to honor, and
national crime against those who devoted their for
tunes and their lives the support, defence and pres
ervatlon OF the Republic.
There would be absolutely no word Of dissent
from these just sentiments, thus dispassonatcly
but strongly stated, were there not a great
political party which owes It's success in tho
past, its hopes Of success in the future. and It's
very existence, 10 the vindctivc memories Of
defeated traitors, and to their unchanged de-
termination TO defeat and defy laws which tend
10 lessen their political power. The Demo
cratic party exists today because there is in
certain States a malignant rebclism of feeling
tremendously powerful. which lifts to high
Office and honor men conspicuous only by their
crimes against the Union, wifi. ,.nds together
in league of lawbreakcrs million survivors
of the rebellion and their descendants to dcfcas
and nullify Constitutional amendments and
all laws 10 secure freedom Of suffrage. That
is the power which Mr., Cleveland represents.
The Senator's indictment is calm, dispassion-
ate, but terribly just.